Product Lead (Defence)

Kainos; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kainos is looking for a Product Lead to join their team in Greater London. In this role, you will be responsible for managing the product backlog, leading cross-functional teams, and engaging with stakeholders to ensure the product's success. You should have experience in bespoke software delivery, strong leadership skills, and active SC clearance. The position emphasizes a people-first culture, focusing on collaboration and innovation, with opportunities for coaching and mentorship within an inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working in an agile team for external customers.
• Responsible for managing the product backlog and ensuring story quality.
• Proven ability to lead and promote product management practices.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end product backlog and ensure product quality.
• Shape the approach for software project phases.
• Engage with stakeholders and manage their expectations.

Skills

Experience in bespoke software delivery

UK Defence Industry experience

Active SC clearance

Leading product teams

Coaching and mentoring in agile techniques

Strong commercial awareness

Job description

About This Role

Join Kainos and Shape the Future

At Kainos, we’re problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators – driven by a shared mission to create real impact. Whether we’re transforming digital services for millions, delivering cutting‑edge Workday solutions, or pushing the boundaries of technology, we do it together.

We believe in a people‑first culture, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of a diverse, ambitious team that celebrates creativity and collaboration.

Ready to make your mark? Join us and be part of something bigger.

Role Overview

As a Product Lead at Kainos, you will play a lead role across one or more multi‑disciplinary agile delivery teams. You will own the end‑to‑end backlog for a product, responsible for its overall quality and maturity. You will lead the business analysts and product consultants on your project, ensuring that the processes for requirements‑gathering and prioritisation are operating effectively.

You will work with delivery managers and solution architects to shape the approach for the work you and the wider team undertakes. You proactively seek commercial opportunities and take a lead role in product‑level commercial negotiations.

You will actively support the engagement with product or programme‑level business stakeholders, gaining their buy‑in and managing their expectations. You will act as a visible leader within the consulting capability, owning the delivery of consulting initiatives. You’ll also manage, coach and develop a small number of staff, with a focus on managing employee performance.

Minimum Requirements

• Experience in bespoke software delivery, operating as part of an agile team working for an external customer (experience in a client‑facing role in a consulting environment is a must‑have).
• UK Defence Industry experience.
• Active SC clearance.
• Responsible for owning the end‑to‑end product backlog and taking responsibility for story quality and maturity.
• Experience in shaping the approach taken in a range of phases of the software development lifecycle – such as analysis, acceptance, launch and live ops. Responsible for ensuring that requirements‑gathering, refinement and prioritisation processes are effective.
• Experience devising goal‑oriented roadmaps, gaining buy‑in from stakeholders and instilling a focus on MVP. Experience leading the collaborative breakdown of goals into small pieces of value‑delivering work.
• Experience leading product teams, ensuring the product vision and goals are understood so that the scope is managed by the team effectively.
• Proven ability to lead, providing direction and promoting good product management practices across one or more agile teams.
• Experience coaching and mentoring clients and colleagues in agile techniques and best practices.
• Proven ability of strong team management skills, including effectively managing, mentoring and coaching members of your team and wider community.
• Strong commercial awareness and active participation in revenue or sales‑generating activity.
• Actively supports and builds relationships with product and programme‑level business stakeholders.
• Facilitates workshops with senior stakeholders, negotiating conflicting viewpoints and achieving buy‑in for new initiatives.
• Experience implementing appropriate tools/standards/techniques for business analysis and requirements gathering, securing appropriate buy‑in from our internal teams and the client.
• Responsible for working with delivery leads and solution architects to manage scope within commercial constraints, such as cost restrictions or project deadlines.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of relevant technologies and architecture concepts.

Equality and Diversity

At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive. We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are. We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field.

Our talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way. If you require accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out so that our recruitment process can be tailored to your needs.